Tiger mauls two troopers in Bihar

Patna, Feb 28 (IANS) A tiger injured two paramilitary troopers in Valmiki National Park in West Champaran district of Bihar Monday, police said.The injured troopers of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were admitted in a hospital in district headquarters Bettiah, a police officer said.

Valmiki National Park, Bihar’s only tiger project, is over 250 km from here.

The incident has created panic among the security personnel who move about freely in the national park despite warnings by forest officials.

A few years ago, a SSB trooper was killed by a tiger in the park.

The tiger population in the Valmiki National Park has been decreasing at an alarming rate, according reports.

There were 56 tigers in the park in 2002, but their number came down to 10-12 in 2010, the reports said.